Sunday night on Real Life (12th June) John Cowan’s guest was former broadcaster and current mayor of Christchurch, Bob Parker.

With the recent earthquake in Christchurch, the city was once again thrown into the media spotlight, and at the centre of that commotion was Bob Parker. His leadership was tested as he navigated the aftermath of the quake, and narrated this dark chapter in the city’s history to those around the nation and the world.

No stranger to the media, Bob has spent the majority of his career in the public eye. He started as a presenter on radio which took him from his hometown of Christchurch to Wellington and then Auckland. He later became a television presenter hosting the New Zealand version of This Is Your Life, returning to Christchurch in 1992.

Going on to become a public servant, he served as mayor of Banks Peninsula district for two terms from 2001. After the district was amalgamated with Christchurch City, Parker was elected mayor of Christchurch by a considerable margin.